Bill Targets Melaleuca Trees

Legislature '96

House Panel Oks Plan To Require Axing Of Pesky Interlopers

TALLAHASSEE — Got a melaleuca tree in your back yard? Or three or four?

If so, you would have to chop them down by Jan. 1, 1998, under a bill passed Tuesday by the House Natural Resource Committee.

Local governments that have thousands of the water-gobbling trees on their property also would have to come up with a plan to remove them, although not necessarily chop them down.

Water management districts and other governments are spending $2.5 million a year trying to control the tree, said Rep. Tom Warner, R-Stuart, sponsor of the bill (CS/HB 823).

''We are spending a zillion dollars on this,'' said Rep. James King, R-Jacksonville. ''All they're going to do is cross-pollinate, and we start all over again.''

Melaleuca trees, imported from Australia early this century, have no natural enemies in Florida. When used as ornamental plants in sandy, coastal areas, they do not proliferate. But in wet, mucky areas such as the Everglades, they crowd out native plants and reduce the number of wild animals a plot of ground can support.

Homeowners with properties of two acres or less would be required to remove the trees, if they live within a city. In unincorporated areas, the ban would affect people whose homes are on five acres or less. Because of the potential burden and cost, owner of larger tracts would not have to comply.

Cities could pass laws giving them authority to remove melaleucas and to bill homeowners.

Some lawmakers raised the specter of heavy-handed government intrusion into people's lives.

''You try to go to some mom and pop's home in Broward County and you're going to be sued so fast your head will swim,'' said Rep. Dean Saunders, D-Lakeland.

Others said the bill would unfairly burden homeowners.

''If you're up in years and you ask a company to come in and remove five or six melaleuca trees, you're going to spend $500 to $1,500,'' said Rep. John Laurent, R-Bartow.

Warner compared the bill with ordinances that allow city workers to clear overgrown lots. It passed the committee on a 13-4 vote.